Spring wheel



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P. J. BENSON s SPRING WHEEL Filed Sept. .5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ww@M4 l Patented Apr. 27, lQZti.

PETER J'. BEIII'SQEIT, OF VZORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ermite WHEEL.

Application filed September T0 all' whom it may concern:

Ee it linown that. l, Pla-'rien J. BENSON, a subject or the King ofNorway, residing at lllorcester, in the countyot orcester and State otMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Springlllheel, of whichthe `following is a specilication.

rlhis invention relates to arwheel capable of use for. general purposeslont particularly adapted as an automobile wheel.

rl'he principal obj-ectl of the invention is to do away with the use ofpneumatic tires hy the employment of' a new arrangement of springs totake their place andgive the wheel all the flexibility that a pneumatictire will give it; also to lprovide means whereby dust and-dirt areexcluded and the parts are protected from water and dampness; toprovidefor the application of an ordinary brake to the wheel in a simple andconvenient man-ner; and to provide someoi' the parts so that they canloe made of duplicate pieces in order to reduce expense of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages ont the invention will appear hereinafter.

Vlileiierence is to he had to the accompanying drawings in which- 1 is ayfragmentary side viewof a driving wheel constructed in accordance withthis invent-ion with parts broken away to show interior construction; a

ig. 2 is sectional view on the broken line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the radial line 3-3 oi Fig. 1;

Fig. e is a sectional viewalong the radial guide-way;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lever and spring connections,illustratingthe guiding means in section;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view oit one of the slides shown in Fig. 5 ;l

7 is a side lview of one of' the end discs.sho\ving the inner sidethereof;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the inner side of the opposite end disc; and

F 9 is a similar vviewshowing the thin leather and metal discs forexcluding the dust, dirt and moisture.

l have shown the invention as applied to a driving wheel having a rim 10in two parts bolted together at intervals by holt-s 11 extending across1oetween them. These parts have three guide slots 12 in an axialdirection on their circumference for receiving 5,v 1925. Serial No.54,667..

projections 13 off a similar shape on a con, tuiuous rim 14e preferablyof metal. vThis rim 1l .therefore is driven on so that the tonguesformed by the projections 13; pro ject into the slots 12 and in them.'lhese slots do not extend throughout the width of the rim 10 so that ashoulder is provided constituting a positive stop. Alsofthe rim 1i isprovided with ears 15 at intervals which are secured to one ot the rimsect-ions 10 by screws 16 to hold these parts irmly together. G11-theoutside is a solid rubber tire 17 secured in any ordinary way.

Secnrelyed between the two rim see tions l() and held liXedly tothem isa solid ventral plate 20. ril'iis plate is providedI with a series oitradial recesses 211 and is out, out at the center tov form a centralsquare opening 22. These recessesfhave opposite sides which are parallelto the radial center lines and provided with guides 23. These guides arearranged in pairs, each pair as a whole-'being radial. In these'guidesoperare slides @el arranged in pairs and movable radially.

Each pair of slides 2s is connected across by a pin 25 and on each pinare two springs 26. rlhe springs loear against the slides and against alever 27 held between them and' lxtending in a direction perpendicularto the pin 25. 'llhese levers. have openings through them for thereception ot' the pin 25 but not large enOuglrto permit the springs 25to pass through. lt will he ohvions therefore that Jthese levers canmove in a tangential direction and are restrained by the opposition ofthe springs Q6. The levers 27' entend in opposite directions from 'thepins 25 through a pai-r of discs 3G. rThese discs 30 are keyed to asleeve 81 on the shaft 32l or axle of the wheel. rlhese discs 30 areprovided with recesses in which are hearing hal-ls provid-ing a hearingon opposite sides or the plate 20 to reduce friction. The two discs 30'are exactly alike` and are provided with short studs 3% radially locatedon their exterior surfaces., On the studs are mounted springs 35 locatedin radial position and engaging studs 36 extending inwardly from the rimsections 10. Conscquently the shaft is radially supported from the rimin yielding manner.

The levers 27 have their ends engaging in openings in a pair ofdiscs 3Sand 39. These discs are somewhat, but not exactly, alike. rlhe disc 39is tree on the sleeve 31 and has perforations for receiving the ends ofthe levers which are held on them by nuts i() on the outside of the disc39. A nut ll1 is screwed on the end of the sleeve 3l and up against thedisc 39. The dise 38 is provided with recesses 4t2 for receiving headson the ends of the levers 27 constituting fulcrums therefor. This discis keyed to the sleeve 31. It is also held to it by a nut a3 and isprovided with a circular projection f-l having inner and outer brakesurfaces for receiving brake shoes 45 and 46 one inside and one outsideif that is preferred.

This constitutes the working part of the wheel and it will be seen thatthe rim can yield radially and circumferentially at all times. The plate2O is a part of the rim while the plates 30 and 38 are a part of the hubof the wheel. The wheel has no spokes and no sections between the partsof the rim to resist any pressure except the springconnected membersdescribed. The wheel is balanced by having the two discs30 on both sidesof the center and there are springs 35 arranged in the same way.Friction is reduced and the work of the springs decreased by the generalconstruction and arrangement of the parts.

For the purpose of keeping out dust, dirt and moisture, I provide a pairof metal discs t7 on each side arranged loose on the sleeve 31 andhaving perforations for the levers 2T. In between these its a leatherdisc 48 in each case. This reaches to the rim and is held in position byan annular washer 49 against the rim members 19. On the outside thisleather dise is protected by a metallic disc 50 held by a split steelring 5l on each side. These rings are beveled and are snapped into abeveled circular recess in the rim, so as to stay in place. These discsLi8 and 50 extend in on each side far enough to be covered by the edgesof the discs 38 and 39. These thin discs are arranged in this way tokeep out water, dirt and dust. Also bearing on the flexible metal discsare annular projections 52 on the inner sides of the two discs 38 and 39to hold them in place.

In this way the springs are protected and also the bearing balls andtheir surfaces so as to be. capable of lasting a long time. It will beseen that the hub and rim of the wheel are spring connected bothtangentially and radially so that the action will be yielding inordinary driving and when any sudden jar occurs. The hub really consistsof the two discs 30 and the dise 38 all being keyed to the sleeve whichis in turn keyed to the shaft or axle. T-he rim comprises the parts l()and 14: as well as the plate 20. No matter whether the wheel is a rearor front wheel, that is, a driver or driven wheel, the circumferentialmotion is transmitted from the hub to the rim or vice versa through thetangential springs 26 and also the action is modified by the presence ofthe levers QT which equalize the action on the two sides of the wheel.Any vertical motion is transmitted through the radial springs 35 in ayielding manner.

I have illustrated the invention as applied to a driving or rear wheel.Of course it is equally applicable to a front wheel by making obviouschanges and leaving out the brake. This would involve taking oillprojection la and brake shoes, and in that case it would not be strictlynecessary to lix the dise 38 to the sleeve 3l.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in thc art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but what I do claim is l. In a spring wheel, the combination with a rimhaving means for holding a solid tire thereon, of a central platetixedly connected with the rim and extending toward the hub of the wheelat the center thereof, a hub for the wheel comprising a pair of discs onopposite sides of the central plate, a series of radial springsseparating these discs from the rim all around the circumference, aseries of springs arranged tangentially by which the pressuretransmitted between the hub and the central plate, and means connectedwith cach of said tangential springs for equalizing the pressure on thetwo sides of the wheel.

2. In a spring wheel, the combination with a rim, of a central platelixedly connected with the rim and extending toward the hub of thewheel, a hub -for the wheel comprising a pair of discs on opposite sidesofthe central plate, a series of radial springs separating these discsfrom the rim all around the circum'lerence, a series of pins carried bythe central plate and arranged tangentially, springs on the oppositeeiny it said pins by which the pressure is tralrsmitted to and from thecentral plate, a lever on each pin extending axially through said discsand located between the two springs on each pin, and means at the endsof the hub of the wheel for holding the ends ol said levers.

3. In a spring wheel, the combination with a rim and a central platesecured thereto and extending inwardly part way to the hub of the wheeland having recesses therein, of a series of levers extending axiallythrough said recesses, a pair of springs on opposite sides of each leverYlor transmittingr the pressure of the lever to the plate yieldingly ineither direction, a pair of discs fixed with respect to the hub of thewheel located on opposite sides of said central plate and overlappingthe same and having perforations through which said levers pass, meansbeyond said discs for anchoring the opposite ends of said levers,whereby the strains due to rotation are transmitted yieldingly from thehub to the rim and vice versa, and radial springs for holding the huband rim apart.

4. ln a spring wheel, the combination with a .rim and a plate securedthereto and extending inwardly part rway to the hub of the wheel, of aseries of levers extending axially, springs on opposite sides of eachlever for transmitting the pressure of the lever to the plateyieldingly, a` pair of discs fixed with respect to the hub of the wheellocated on opposite sides of said plate and overlapping the same andhaving perforations through which said levers pass, and means beyondsaid discs for anchoring the opposite ends of said levers.

5. ln a spring wheel, the combination with a hub comprising a-pair ofdiscs fixed with respect to the axle and spaced apart, aA central plateprojecting between said discs, and a rim secured to the central plate,of ball bearings between the plate and discs to permit them to movefreely with respect to each other, said plate having a series ofopenings therethrough provided with slides on the opposite surfacesthereof arranged radially, a seriesfof levers passing through saidopenings and said discs and anchored at points beyond the two discs ontheir opposite ends, yielding means for connecting said levers with saidslides, whereby the levers can move as a whole with the slides towardand from the center, and yielding means for connecting the discs withthe rim to Vpermit radial motion.

6. ln a spring wheel, the combination with a hub comprising a pair ofdiscs iixed with respect to the shaft and spaced apart, a central plateprojecting between said discs, a rim secured to the central pla-te, andball bearings between the plate and discs to permit them to move freelyin any direction in the plane of the wheel with respect to each other,said plate havinga series of radial openings therethrough provided withslides on the opposite surfaces thereof, of a series of levers passingthrough said openings and said discs, and yielding means for connectingsaid levers with said slides, whereby the levers can move as a wholewith the slides toward and from the center.

7. kIn a spring wheel, the combination with a hub, of a rim comprising acentral plate, said plate having a series of openings therethroughprovided with slides on the opposide surfaces thereof, a series oflevers passing through said openings, yielding means for connecting saidlevers with said slides, whereby the levers can move as a whole with theslides toward and from the center, means for connecting the oppositeen'ds of the levers with the hub, and means supported by the hub of thewheel and by the rim for excluding dirt and moisture.

8. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub and rim and radial means onboth sides of the wheel for yieldingly resisting Vup and down motion, ofathin metal plate at each end of the hub movable with the hub andextending to the circumference thereof, a leather disc extending in fromthe rimto a point inside the outer edge of each thin metal plate, and ametal protecting plate lixed to the rim and projecting inwardly to theinner edge o-f each leather disc, to keep out dirt and moisture.

9. ln a wheel, the combination with a rela tively movable hub and rimand radial means on both sides of the wheel for yieldingly resisting upand down motion, of two thin metal plates at each end of the hubextending to the circumference thereof, a leather disc` extending fromthe rim to a point between the outer edges of each pair of thin metalplates, a metal protecting plate fixed to the rim and projectinginwardly to the edge of the leather disc outside the outer plate of eachpair of the lirst named met-al plates, and a pair of end piecesextending outwardly beyond the inner edges of the last named metalplates to keep out dirt and moisture.

l0. In a` wheel, the combination with a relatively movable hub and rimand radial means on both sides of the wheel for yieldingly resistingupand down motion, of two thin metal plates at each end of the hub, aleather disc extending between the outer edges of each pair of the thinmetal plates, a metal protecting plate fixed to the rim and projectinginwardly to the edge of each of the leather discs, and a pair of endpieces each having a ring engaging the outer thin metal plate of one ofsaid two pairs for forcing them inwardly.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto aliixed my signature.

PETER J. BENSON.

